Originally, the Roman legion was made up of citizen soldiers who volunteered or were drafted into the army in times of need. Soldiers were required to provide arms and armor for themselves and were therefore divided up based on their wealth. The major groups in the early legion were:
Velites
Made up of the lowest class of Romans
No armor
Fought with javelins
Hastari
Lower/Middle class citizens
Little/no experience
Bronze/Iron weapons and armor
Armed with short sword (gladius) and javelin (philum)
Pricipes
Middle class citizens
Middle aged (20s-30s)
Good battle experience
Iron weapons
Armed with the same sword and javelins as Hastari
Triarii
Upper-middle class citizens
Very experienced
Iron weapons and armor
Armed with a long spear rather than a sword
Equites
Drawn from the upper class of society (equestrian class)
Fought on horseback
Armed with a long spear
Marius' Reforms
In 107 BC, Gaius Marius introduced a series of reforms that would make significant changes to the Roman army. One major change in the Roman army came in its organization. Marian legions were open to any and all citizens who wanted to enlist. The Roman government provided modern, iron arms and armor for each soldier in the army regardless of their wealth and rank in society. Soldiers who enlisted served for a number of years ranging from 16-20 years. These professional soldiers were well trained and well armed and soon became the most effective army in the classical world. While serving in the army, soldiers were granted a portion of the spoils and, upon retirement, a pension. These reforms gave the average Roman citizen a change to gain wealth in ways formerly denied to them.
The Roman Legion
The Early Legion
Originally, the Roman legion was made up of citizen soldiers who volunteered or were drafted into the army in times of need. Soldiers were required to provide arms and armor for themselves and were therefore divided up based on their wealth. The major groups in the early legion were:Velites
Hastari
Pricipes
Triarii
Equites
Marius' Reforms
In 107 BC, Gaius Marius introduced a series of reforms that would make significant changes to the Roman army. One major change in the Roman army came in its organization. Marian legions were open to any and all citizens who wanted to enlist. The Roman government provided modern, iron arms and armor for each soldier in the army regardless of their wealth and rank in society. Soldiers who enlisted served for a number of years ranging from 16-20 years. These professional soldiers were well trained and well armed and soon became the most effective army in the classical world. While serving in the army, soldiers were granted a portion of the spoils and, upon retirement, a pension. These reforms gave the average Roman citizen a change to gain wealth in ways formerly denied to them.The Late Legion